Leeds, Bradford & Wakefield by John McGrath

EDITION 32

Retired JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012

& living in Leeds, Bradford & Wakefield

LYNDA BELLINGHAM

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET WITH THIS CALENDAR GIRL

INSIDE TRAVEL

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN ROBINSONS HOLIDAYS AFFORDABLE PEACE OF MIND

HEALTH

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL LEISURE CENTRES GET ACTIVE

FOOD & DRINK

WEBSTERS FANTASTIC FISH & CHIPS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

RICK STEIN

SHARES HIS FAVOURITE DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 55s

FREE Please t

ake one

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This party season

Let your smile sparkle Call us on 01904 639667 Book online www.andreaubhi.com A t A n d r e a U b h i Y o r k , w e a r e a lw a y s b e in g a s k e d h o w w e c a n im p r o v e a s m i l e , s o h e r e i s o u r g u i d e t o g e t y o u r e a d y fo r th e p a r ty s e a s o n .

1. T O O T H W H IT E N IN G This can be done in the surgery in an hour, or at home, taking a few applications. Once you have done the initial whitening treatment, why not top-up using a home kit with whitening gel while you are getting ready to go out to party...for that extra glow! 2. N O -P R E P A R A T IO N V E N E E R S. Porcelain veneers, which are similar to false fingernails can be added to the front of the tooth surface. This procedure, if suitable, can change the colour and shape of your teeth and can be completed within 2-3 weeks using our Californian ceramists.

Before treatment

After treatment

C ASE STUD Y: This patient had small upper teeth. She decided to have four upper NoPreparation porcelain veneers and the remaining teeth were whitened.

Veneers by Da Vinci ceramists, California and the team at Andrea Ubhi York.

3. W R IN K LE R E D U CT IO N A N D FILLE R T R E A T M E N T S: Lips can be made fuller with dermal fillers. Using advanced techniques, the lip borders can be filled, reducing vertical wrinkling and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;lipstick bleedingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;; and the fullness of the central portion of the lips can be increased.

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4. COSMETIC ORTHODONTICS

Many people are concerned that they have crooked teeth, but think that braces are just for younger people, and wonder what can be done to treat this cosmetic problem. Cosmetic orthodontic procedures move the teeth into a more aesthetic position using forces applied through cosmetic orthodontic appliances such as ceramic brackets for fixed braces, Invisalign, which is a clear, thin gum shield and lingual braces that are fitted behind the teeth.

5. DENTAL IMPLANTS

A dental implant is an artificial titanium root that is placed to replace missing teeth, so unlike a denture, you can bite fully on an implant without it moving or slipping as the implant is supported by the bone, and unlike a bridge, the adjacent teeth are not cut down to support the replacement tooth, because when an implant is placed, it is fixed in the bone itself.

Each case is different, however many of our patients are completing cosmetic orthodontics in 3-9 months. The estimated time frame will be discussed at your consultation.

Dr Hani D a la ti DDS IQE (U K ) M M ed Sci M Den tS ci M F DS RCS (En g ) M F D.RCS I (Ire) M .O rth .RCS Ed FF D (O rth o ) RCS I (Irel), Registered Specialist in Orthodontics.

CA S E S T U D Y This patient was concerned about the cosmetic appearance of her crooked teeth. Ceramic brackets were placed. Orthodontic treatment took 6 months to complete. A clear retainer is now worn several nights a week to maintain the position of the teeth.

Before treatment

The initial consultation at Andrea Ubhi York is comprehensive. Our Cosmetic Focused Dentists will carefully listen to your concerns and then examine your smile. During the examination, the health of your teeth and gums will be assessed, and will include oral cancer screening.

Dr A d am Glassfo rd BCh D Dip Co n S ed (N cle) qualified in 1996 and has been working within the areas of cosmetic dentistry and dental implantology since 1998. Adam has a particular interest in cosmetic dental implants and the treatment of anxious patients with sedation.

After treatment

OFFERS FOR RETIRED & LIVING READERS UNTIL THE END OF Feb 2012:

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Free cosmetic consultation Introductory tooth whitening: £150 ZOOM whitening: £250 per session Dental implants from £2,000 each Call 01904 639667 and quote: R&L/2011

Andrea Ubhi Y o r k www.retiredmagazines.co.uk

23 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AW 01904 639667

Graham Smith has a Twitter But is he right or wrong? Health and Safety and Hot Air!

Welcome to Retired Magazine 6-7

14-15

20-21

Reading the entire collection of Health and Safety rules which dictate our lives today would be a suitable prison sentence for murder. New ones are added daily by some overpaid barmpot in Whitehall and two I came across recently are worthy of mention. In the beautiful Bronte village of Haworth there is an annual event in June to celebrate the 1940s. Everyone and their granny descends on the village, some villagers have been known to move out for the weekend to avoid the crush, and many dress in period costume singing “We’ll Meet Again” increasingly loudly as the local brew takes effect.

TRAVEL & LEISURE 6-7

Under The Tuscan Sun

8-9

Robinsons Holidays Affordable peace of mind.

Until three years ago part of the spectacle was a fly past by retired World War Two aeroplanes, usually a Spitfire, a Hurricane or a Lancaster Bomber. Now these planes are still air worthy after seventy years but some clown in Bradford Council’s Health and Safety asylum decided there was a problem.

REGULARS

The Spitfire won the Battle of Britain. Hitler and his army eventually chucked the towel in because they couldn’t down enough of the planes to win. It’s a good job Bradford Council wasn’t on his side or he’d have won.

16-18 Saving Energy, Money & The Environment

The organisers of the Forties Weekend had to conduct a Health and Safety and feasibility study and here was one of the questions:-

20-21 Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes Recipes

“What was the likelihood of one of the planes crashing onto the village during the flypast?” Now we don’t see many Fokkers or Messerschmitts over Haworth these days and the Home Guard was disbanded some years ago. The only aerial threat we have is from rooks and the occasional duck with a dicky tummy, which might necessitate wearing a tin helmet on windy days. I think we had the greatest confidence that the pilots would have successfully cleared the village without a mass slaughter of the population, but, no, we couldn’t have a fly past. 10,000 people squeezed onto our tiny cobbled streets that weekend. Traffic management had a pink fit as the hordes parked their cars anywhere and everywhere. Hermann Goerring was spotted having a pint in The Fleece but we couldn’t have aeroplanes using the only empty space in the valley…the sky. Were all flights from Leeds-Bradford airport suspended for the day in case the lunch time Ireland plane crashed in Central Park? They were not. There was a famous wartime phrase which said, “Your country needs you”. I suggest the same does not apply to the Health and Safety nitwits of today.

14-15 Interview Lynda Bellingham talks to Retired.

HOME

FOOD & DRINK

Kingfisher Restaurant Great food at great prices.

Dear Reader, Welcome to the latest local Retired magazine which we hope you will sit back and enjoy at your leisure. Our journalists Angela Kelly, Graham Smith and Sheila Alcock are continuing to keep you well informed with their celebrity interviews and up to date household tips. We know you will also be left with a smile on your face after reading Graham’s observations on life! If you know of an event which would benefit from free publicity please feel free to let us know and we can consider including it in our next issue.

McGrath Media. Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594 e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com

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North Bay Leisure Park BRIDLINGTON

! R A E Y L L OPEN A

Luxury

Holiday Homes Superb park - Fantastic location North Bay Leisure Park offers you the prime East Yorkshire location for your holiday home. Glorious beaches are a stone's throw away and the delights of Bridlington are on your doorstep. If it's luxury, relaxation or excitement you want, then North Bay Leisure Park is the ideal place for you! Whether you wish to enjoy the attractions of beautiful East Yorkshire and the many things to do or simply wind down, family-owned North Bay Leisure Park is the perfect place for your holiday. Here you can choose to relax and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of our attractive David Bellamy Conservation Award winning grounds, or explore the historic town of Bridlington just five minutes walk away with its picturesque fishing harbour, and wealth of other attractions within a short drive.

Our Facilities... North Bay Leisure Park is the only park located within Bridlington. As there are a profusion of facilities close by, North Bay Leisure Park has been designed to provide a tranquil haven away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

To find us follow the signs to North Beach parking.

Owning your own holiday home... We have a superb range of new and pre-owned Holiday Homes to suit every budget from all the top manufacturers including Willerby, Pemberton, BK Bluebird, Cosalt, Atlas and many more. Pre-owned Holiday Homes start from as little as ÂŁ19,995 inclusive of a fantastic first time buyers package â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Please call for further details.

Under the Tuscan Sun

trung along 18km of serrated cliffs between Levanto and La Spezia, the Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s treasures. These five higgledy-piggledy villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are cut off by mountains, choked with olive groves and dry-stone-walled vineyards, where farmers have eked out a living over the centuries. The Cinque Terre became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1997, which includes a protected marine area, and became a national park (Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre) in 1999. Wine growers still use monorail mechanisms to ferry themselves up and the grapes down these unique lands, and in some cases have to harvest by boat as access is restricted. If the terraced hillsides are not worked, they will quite literally slide into the sea. National park status has spared the area from a propagation of tourism and the tacky souvenir stands that come with it and saved it from environmental destruction. Cars and motorbikes are not allowed in the villages, instead they are connected by train. In the villages, electric buses scale the sheer streets. Park authorities close walking paths when numbers become too great, so it s best to arrive in the cool and relative calm of the early morning.

EATING/DRINKING Grapevines and olive trees cover the hillsides, so wine and oil are a must on the restaurant tables. They prove excellent companions for the salted anchovies of Monterosso served in olive oil as well as the many specialty fish dishes and authentic gastronomic delights. 6

The cuisine of the Cinque Terre almost perfectly conserves the characteristics of yesteryear; the respect for the flavours and fragrances of the primary ingredients. Trofie is a kind of pasta made from chestnut or wheat flour, It’s condiment is still pesto sauce, an original Ligurian sauce made from basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, grated parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Torte di verdura - vegetable pies -are prepared with a stuffing containing parsley, marjoram, wild local herbs, artichokes, zucchini, potatoes and leeks, combined with egg and ricotta cheese or with stale bread soaked in milk or béchamel sauce and parmesan cheese. The pie crust is very thin, because flour was a very precious commodity. Torta di riso - rice pie - is a specialty of every Italian grandma in the region. Frittate - flat omelettes - are popular today as the ‘frittata’ has been rediscovered as a tasty antipasto. Another important dish on the tables of the Cinque Terre population was cotoletta di acciuga, anchovies stuffed with a breadcrumb based filling and then fried. The fritelle di bianchetti, fritters made from tiny newborn anchovies or sardines, were also highly appreciated. Following the seamen’s gastronomic traditions, other dishes included stewed cuttlefish, stuffed calamari and spiced octopus.

SLEEPING Numerous villagers have rooms to rent: look for signs reading camere (rooms) or affittacamere (rooms for rent). Accommodation booking offices in Riomaggiore are really helpful and can help you organise a room ahead of time. The town of Levanto is bigger and has a lot of accommodation including hotels, bed & breakfasts www.retiredmagazines.co.uk

T R AV E L and even camping areas where you can rent a tent with two beds and linens for very low prices! Note: Breakfast in an Italian hotel or B&B will be some slices of bread and a croissant, butter, jam and coffee with orange juice if you are lucky. This is a typical Italian breakfast so if you can get a room without breakfast and head down to the nearest cafe where there is a larger choice.

GETTING AROUND Take the train to La Spezia and change onto the regional (“Regionale”) train that makes all the local stops in the Cinque Terre mostly through tunnels. All the Cinque Terre towns have their own train station. Almost all the trains from La Spezia stop in Levanto. The train represents the best way to visit all the villages of the Cinque Terre. Until the end of the 19th Century these towns were completely isolated and reachable just on foot or by sea. In 1860 (works ended in 1874) the first tunnel of this track was built connecting Genoa with La Spezia and crossing almost entirely all this territory through tunnels (32 tunnels were built here!). This means of transportation gives you the possibility to visit the villages in a discreet and easy way and as the train emerges from another tunnel you are treated to another stunning view of one of the best secrets in Italy.

DONT LEAVE WITHOUT The Cinque Terre boasts some of the best coastline hiking trails in the world. The path from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell’Amore - or Lovers Walk. The beautiful trail along the shore is very easy to hike. Along the way, you’ll witness where lovers have written their names on the rocks and trees surrounding the walk. In the middle of Riomaggiore and Manarola you will come across ‘The Lover’s Lock’ which is a place to seal your eternal love. At this point there is a concrete throne in the shape of a male and female locked in a kiss, where many people duplicate this creating a lovely photographic opportunity. The next hike from Manarola to Corniglia is also easy. However, there is an up hill hike and a large zigzag shaped staircase with 385 steps which can be quite a mission in the midday sun! The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza offers incredible views of shore and is only steep at certain places. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is the steepest (you need a reasonably good level of fitness - there is over 250m of climbing over very uneven rocks, totalling approx. 750 ‘steps’ - not easy!), winding through olive orchards and vineyards and offering dramatic ocean views. The paths are narrow, with a very real danger of falling 12 to 15 feet if you lose your footing. If you attempt this hike, take some water, and be prepared to build up a sweat.

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Monarola at Sunset

The walk between all the villages takes the better part of a day. For those that would rather not walk (or not walk the entire trail), a pedestrian ferry service runs seasonally to all five villages, plus Lerici. The price is reasonable, and gives a nice view of the villages from the water. The milk train that connect all the villages is also a quick way to hop among towns. It is advised that you attempt the walk as early as possible to avoid the hottest part of the day during the summer period. Sneakers or suitable walking shoes are essential. You must purchase a pass for the hike. It is also possible to purchase a hiking and train pass in one if you wish to catch a train to the next town. Hiking Times around the Cinque Terre: Monterosso - Vernazza: 90 minutes. Vernazza - Corniglia: 90 minutes. Corniglia - Manarola: 45 minutes. Manarola - Riomaggiore: 20 minutes. Manarola also has its own beautiful vineyard walk.

Language:

Italian and although English is spoken widely, the locals always appreciate your small efforts to communicate in their language. Currency: Euro (EUR) Time zone: GMT + 2 7

Est.1923

Affordable peace of mind ..... Holidays

FULL 2012 BROCHURE OUT NOW

COACH TOURS 2012 LOCAL PICK UP POINTS

ABBEY LAWN HOTEL, TORQUAY

IMPERIAL HOTEL, EASTBOURNE

OCEAN VIEW HOTEL, ISLE OF WIGHT

Abbey Lawn Hotel, Torquay AA Torquay is most certainly one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest resorts and the heart of the English Riviera. If you are looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey, overlooking Torbay, there are superb facilities. These include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gym, steam room, sauna and a spacious conservatory. As with all our own hotels a night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

Imperial Hotel, Eastbourne Robinsons Eastbourne is an ideal holiday destination, it has one of the top sunshine records in the UK and has been awarded the Seaside Award for its clean safe beaches for the past eight years. An impressive Victorian hotel, situated at the seaward end of Devonshire place, less than a hundred yards from the seafront, on a delightful tree-lined boulevard less than five minutes walk from the main facilities and town centre amenities. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

Ocean View Hotel, Shanklin Robinsons Take a short boat ride across the Solent and discover the Isle of Wight, an island of great natural beauty and superb weather, with a wealth of attractions for visitors of all ages. Shanklin, on the south coast of the island, is home to a variety of safe, golden beaches and a quaint collection of shops housed in traditional thatched cottages. An elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, the balconies provide the perfect place to enjoy the sunset on summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before enjoying an evning meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

Freephone : 0800 0839086 www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk

Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

1501

Book any tour from this magazine before 31st December 2011 and receive 12 month membership to our TRAVEL CLUB* *Current Travel Club members will receive a free 12 month Travel Club membership when their present membership expires

8 Days/ 7 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes at least 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance

5 Days/ 4 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance

Abbey Lawn Imperial Ocean View Mystery Tour Sat/Sun 28/29 Apr 05/06 May 12/13 May 19/20 May 26/27 May 02/03 Jun 09/10 Jun 16/17 Jun 23/24 Jun 30 Jun/01 Jul 07/08 Jul 14/15 Jul 21/22 Jul 28/29 Jul 04/05 Aug 11/12 Aug 18/19 Aug 25/26 Aug 01/02 Sept 08/09 Sept 15/16 Sept 22/23 Sept 29/30 Sept

£345 £355 £365 £375 £385 £389 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £389 £379 £359 £339

£299 £315 £325 £335 £345 £349 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £359 £349 £339 £319 £299

7 Days/ 6 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes at least 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance Abbey Lawn Imperial Ocean View Mystery Tour Monday 05-Mar 12-Mar 19-Mar 26-Mar 16-Apr 23-Apr 08-Oct 15-Oct 22-Oct 29-Oct

£219 £229 £239 £249 £275 £285 £279 £269 £259 £249

£195 £205 £215 £225 £249 £255 £249 £245 £235 £225

£249 £245 £239 £235 £229 £225

£225 £219 £215 £209 £205 £199

Turkey and Tinsel 05-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov 26-Nov 03-Dec 10-Dec

£249 £245 £239 £235 £229 £225

Abbey Lawn Imperial Ocean View Mystery Tour Monday 06-Feb 13-Feb 20-Feb 27-Feb 05-Mar 12-Mar 19-Mar 26-Mar 02-Apr 06-Apr 11-Apr 16-Apr 23-Apr 30-Apr 07-May 14-May 21-May 28-May 04-Jun 11-Jun 18-Jun 25-Jun 02-Jul 09-Jul 16-Jul 23-Jul 30-Jul 06-Aug 13-Aug 20-Aug 27-Aug 03-Sept 10-Sept 17-Sept 24-Sept 01-Oct 08-Oct 15-Oct 22-Oct 29-Oct

£139 £145 £149 £155 £159 £165 £169 £175 £175 £185 £185 £189 £195 £225 £215 £209 £205 £199

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£129 £133 £135 £139 £145 £149 £155 £159 £155 £165 £165 £169 £175 £179 £189 £195 £199 £205 £209 £215 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £225 £219 £215 £209 £199 £189 £185 £179 £175

£199 £195 £189 £185 £179 £175* £169* £395 £375

£179 £175 £169 £165 £165 £165* £165* £355 £335

Turkey and Tinsel 05-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov 26-Nov 03-Dec 10-Dec 17-Dec 23-Dec 29-Dec

£199 £195 £189 £185 £179 £175* £169* £395 £375

* Unlimited Singles Abbey Lawn and Ocean View Hotels - Front facing/seaview supplements 7 Days £13 per person. 8 Days £15 per person. 5 Days £10 per person

Freephone: 0800 0839086 Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk

FITNESS and being over 50 may not always go together as we monitor the changes in our bodies as we get older and wonder where on earth all that natural movement went. But, we can improve our fitness and move into a healthier phase of our lives by taking up some form of exercise – without pulling muscles or getting a strained back! Sara Stanner, science programme manager for the British Nutrition Foundation, explains that increasing activity levels after the age of 50 can improve life expectancy and increase the number of years spent disease and disability free. “Being active can help protect against heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers, arthritis and osteoporosis,” she states. “It can help you to maintain a good appetite, keep you mobile, help with joint stiffness and pain associated with arthritis, reduce the risk of falling and fracturing bones by strengthening muscles and can improve your mood and sense of well-being.” Exercise doesn’t have to be hard to achieve or expensive. Sara suggests any cardio-vascular activity – that’s one that gets you at least slightly out of breath – will help to keep your heart, lungs and blood vessels healthy. This could be brisk walking, perhaps taking the dog out for a walk, swimming, gardening, golf (no cart!), tennis, aerobics including water aerobics, cycling, dancing, yoga or pilates. It can even be washing the car, or mopping and vacuuming rooms at home. Try to do these types of activity at least twice a week, advises Sara, and incorporate them into your regular routine. But what if you’ve had surgery or have an ongoing health problem? Norman Brown is a personal trainer with the Nuffield Health organisation which runs fitness and well-being centres around the country. Norman delivers a special recovery programme for people who have had surgery and, at 61, understands how ageing can affect our desire to exercise. 10

“If, like me, you are considering reducing your career time to restore the work-life balance or approaching retirement then are there are some important points to consider,” he says. “When did you last exercise or do anything strenuous? What is your health like? What does exercise mean to you? “If you have not exercised for a long time then you should approach it sensibly and cautiously, first asking a GP or health professional to give you the once-over and check you are fit and healthy with no underlying problems. “Undertaking exercise is probably the best decision you have made because it holds the answer to many of the all-too-common health risks today. Improving your aerobic fitness will give you more energy, improving your circulatory system, relieving stress and improving sleep. “Exercise will also help to reduce high cholesterol, lower blood pressure and control blood sugar balance.” As well as, say, walking every day, light gardening or a visit to a gym, Norman suggests a regime of strength training: 10 wall squats, 10 wall pressups, from the floor practise getting up 5 times and do 1 minute of stair-climbing. If you have had hip, back or knee surgery, adds Norman, always follow your postoperative rehabilitation plan provided by your physiotherapist. Going along to a sports centre for regular sessions or to a gym can also easily become an enjoyable social outing where you meet other like-minded people. Having a chat with someone else as you try out the gym’s rowing machine or bike is another positive side-effect of exercise, and there are always experts on hand to ensure you exercise correctly and for your fitness level. Ann Hardy is a 70 year-old sports coach from Southampton who runs a 50+ club three times www.retiredmagazines.co.uk

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged and it’s worth checking available activities with the website www.AgeUK. org.uk Local authorities often help provide subsidised activity sessions for older people if you check with your local council’s website. And it’s important to have a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegs to keep you fit for exercise. If you suspect that you are vitamin deficient, talk to your GP or pharmacist and consider taking vitamins or supplements. a week. “You’ve got to keep the body active, it’s no good just sitting back,” she states. “Our group attracts around 100 people and we do a variety of sports from badminton, tennis, bowls and table tennis to swimming and aerobics.

It is, however, that first vital step to actually doing something that will count and you might start at home with a piece of helpful equipment or useful DVD. For example, fitness “Green Goddess” Diana Moran has created an excellent Easyfit DVD to ease people back into fitness.

“We get men and women of all ages, our oldest member is around 86. We even have people recovering from hip replacements and heart operations who come and exercise as part of their rehabilitation. The club gives a new lease of life to our members.” Living in a retirement home, housing association accommodation or village does definitely not preclude exercise either. At Heyeswood Retirement Living village in St Helens, with onsite personal care by charity Sue Ryder Care, an activity co-ordinator offers attractions like linedancing, Tai-chi classes, table tennis or a Wii Fit. Age UK also helps fund some excellent schemes around the country under its Fit as a Fiddle initiative, plus other projects like one in Spelthorne, Surrey, which introduces sports and activities like netball over an eight-week course. “When we exercise or do physical activities we benefit by improving the three S’s – Stamina, Strength and Suppleness,” says Diana. She cautions against doing too much too soon – “The secret is to start slowly and work up gradually. Listen to your body and if something hurts, stop. Try again tomorrow!” Diana, still youthful at 71, has no doubts what it gives, though: “Exercise has enriched my life.” *For details about Nuffield centres go to www. nuffieldhealth.com for the Easyfit DVD made in conjunction with Stanah Stairlifts go to http:// www.stannahstairlifts.co.uk/en/easy-fit-dvd-2. html and www.suerydercare.org about the social charity’s work. www.retiredmagazines.co.uk

Active Life

At Leeds City Council leisure centres. We might not like to admit it but it is a fact of life, we are all getting older. Fortunately, no one said we had to sit back and accept it. By taking part in regular sport and or physical activity you can prevent many of the things you fear about ageing and start feeling healthier in general. • Feel better about yourself. • Relieve stress and tension. • Improve your mood. • Make new friends. • Manage your weight. • Increase your flexibility, strength and balance. • Sleep better. • Feel more awake and energised.

Active Ageing At Leeds City Council leisure centres.

Active ageing is about preventing or recovering from illness and enjoying recreation and social interaction through sport and physical activity. In our later years it is also about maintaining mobility, independent living and quality of life. Leeds City Council leisure centres offer a range of activities for all ages and fitness levels. For more information and to view the Active Life Directory, please call 0113 395 0001or visit www.leeds.gov.uk/activelife www.leeds.gov.uk/leisurecentres or email active.ageing@leeds.gov.uk

Active Life Voucher This voucher entitles you to try an Active Life session, in a Leeds City Council leisure centre, at the reduced cost of £1.50 (standard cost £4.30). Valid between 1st December 2011 and 31st March 2012 inclusive. This offer does not include any other classes at Leeds City Council leisure centres. Staff use only Name of centre…………………………………………………….. Date used ……………………Retain on use, return to Allyson Bertram. Flex code ALC, ADUBVO.

What you see is what you get with

LYNDA BELLINGHAM Lynda Bellingham was trying to sort out her home “after a hell of a week” rehearsing someone new on the latest tour of Calendar Girls and spending rare time in domestic bliss. “Because my life tends to be all over the place outside the home, I like relative order in it,” she explains in those immediately identifiable sexy tones that have ensured a fascinatingly varied career including a wealth of radio and TV voice-overs. She is now 63, still glamorous but with the kind of accessible personality that makes women like her and men fancy her. The fact that she has spent the past two years taking her clothes off on stage – twice on Saturdays – has, surprisingly, endeared her to both. “We’re not actually nude, of course,” she laughs, “but that’s how it looks. Calendar Girls is a marvellous play – Tim Firth (who wrote the film and the play) has done a fantastic job with it and wherever you go you can feel the audience’s sense of excitement and anticipation because of the ‘nude’ scenes.”

“I had a wonderful childhood, very happy,” she recalls. “I think my generation got used to accepting things – the Pill, sexual freedom among them – and that has stood us in good stead for today’s changing world.” She got her big break as a nurse in ITV’s ‘70s afternoon soap opera General Hospital and appeared in films including Confessions of a Driving Instructor and Sweeney! During the ‘80s, though, she became famous as the head of the family in the Oxo TV adverts. “Of course they wanted me to be warm and motherly, while what I really wanted as an actress was to be edgy and different!” she says with a husky laugh. “It was fine doing the adverts but it can be a doubleedged sword - my profile among agents and casting directors for a long time was this type of person.” This worked in her favour, though, when she played vet James Herriot’s wife (replacing Carol Drinkwater) in telly favourite All Creatures Great and Small, and her comic timing was also recognised in situation comedies Second Thoughts and its sequel Faith in the Future.

If you’ve been hiding in a cave in the Himalayas for the past couple of years you might not have heard of the true story of the ladies of a Yorkshire Women’s Institute who decided to raise money for charity after the husband of one of them died from leukaemia. Their idea of a nude calendar made them iconic figures worldwide, and spawned both a hit film and the highly successful play. Chris Harper is the main driver of this campaign (mostly played on stage by Lynda although casts have varied) and the actress is still a great admirer of the original role model. “It took someone like her to make it happen, I think. Having met her several times, I can see why.” So could Lynda herself have been that driving force in the same situation? “Yes, I think I could,” she states. “I think I’m a bit determined like that.” A glance back at Lynda’s own life reveals the truth of that statement. She was born in Montreal, Canada, but adopted by an English couple at the age of four months and brought up in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. 14

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She starred in the 14-part Doctor Who serial The Trial of a Time Lord playing against type as the Inquisitor, reprising this character for an audio series. And from 2000 for three years, she played compassionate accountant Pauline Farnell in the hit TV series At Home With The Braithwaites alongside Amanda Redman and Peter Davison. For several months in 2004, however, she enjoyed a recurring role in The Bill as villainess Irene Radford, offering fans a chance to see a different side of Lynda’s acting skills. “I really loved doing that!” she exclaims. “Unfortunately, there really aren’t that many good roles for women of a certain age, and there are quite a few of us after the few that there are.” Lynda, has, however, had an interesting range of roles in the theatre, and has also raised her own profile on TV as a quick-witted regular on the award-winning Loose Women programme where she is just herself. In her private life, she has been married three times, her last – “and final” – marriage to Michael Pattemore (a Spanish-based mortgage broker known on Loose Women as “Mr Spain”) on her 60th birthday. She has two sons and a stepson, all in their 20s, two of whom live with the couple in London.

OF COURSE THEY WANTED ME TO BE WARM AND MOTHERLY, WHILE WHAT I REALLY WANTED AS AN ACTRESS WAS TO BE EDGY AND DIFFERENT!

“Michael has always come touring with me, which is lovely because you can be away from home for a while,” she states. Her autobiography Lost and Found proved a literary hit, and the paperback version was out in March. More appearances in Loose Women and more theatre performances are also on the cards for this year, although Lynda says that Calendar Girls will be “rested” after a three-year run and she’s fine with that. She has also become an active campaigner and spokeswoman for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust and Age UK after both her adoptive mother and her birth mother suffered from this debilitating dementia. “It’s funny because you can get quite nervous talking about yourself, as I’ve been doing promoting my book at literary festivals and the like,“ she says. “But I don’t find it difficult to talk about the charity and the importance of getting more people to understand about Alzheimer’s.” As for having her own “role models”, Lynda reckons that she would really like to have the kind of serious roles that comedian and presenter Matthew Kelly has moved into latterly. “Now get me some female Matthew Kelly-type roles and I’ll be happy”, she insists. And that warm voice breaks into the kind of laughter that makes you realise that the likeable image you see is actually what you get with this talented actress whose career is set to continue delighting fans for a long time to come. 15

Is your hard earned cash going through the roof, or down the drain? Last winter was one of the coldest we’ve had in the UK for twenty years and we paid the price in hugely inflated heating bills. To make matters worse, these are expected to rise even higher over the next few years. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, as the weather gets warmer, its all too easy to forget winter chills and put off the moment when we need to take a good look at ways of keeping those heating costs down.

First off, and the most immediate way of cutting out waste, is to take a few simple steps to save energy. 1. Turn the thermostat down on your room temperature. A reduction of 1 degree could cut your heating bills by up to 10%, and you could save around £40 a year. 2. Set the temperature on your hot water tank to 50 degrees celsius. 3. Set the temperature in your refrigerator to between 1.7 and 3.3. degrees Celsius, and set it to -18 degrees Celsius for the freezer. 4. Wash clothes on a low heating cycle, and dry outside on a line, or indoors on a drying rack. Only wash when you have a full load. 5. Turn your computer off when not in use, and unplug DVD players, TVs and games consoles when not in use. 6. Turn lights off when you leave the room. 7. Install low energy light bulbs in every room. 8. Make sure your hot water tank has a foam insulating jacket. 9. Install radiator shields behind your radiators. This will direct warm air upwards into the room, instead of being lost in the wall. 10. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows 11. Never open the oven door while cooking – you could lose around 20% of the heat when you do this. 12. Re-heat small portions of food in your micro-wave oven. This uses less than half of a conventional oven. 13. Never fill your kettle to make a single cup of tea, but ensure you use sufficient water to cover the element. 14. If you have fireplaces in your house which are not used, install chimney balloons to prevent cold air entering your rooms, and warm air escaping.

To Save on your Water Bills 1. Take a shower rather than a bath, and install low-flow showerheads. 2. Fix any dripping taps. 3. Install tap water savers to all taps. These can be fitted in minutes and can dramatically reduce water consumption. 4.

Use a water saver in your lavatory cistern. These are balloons made of heavy duty plastic, and will save around 3 litres of water every time the toilet is flushed.

Install water butts on down pipes outside your house. This water is free of chlorine, is better for your plants, and will save you a fortune in water bills. As well as the large water butts, they are now available in narrower format, for difficult corners.

Once you’ve taken these easy ways to save energy, it makes sense to look at the wider picture, ask a few more questions and try to take steps before winter sets in again. Is your home insulated? And if not, would you qualify for free loft and cavity wall insulation? There can’t be many of us who don’t know that up to a quarter of the heat we pay for, goes straight through the roof. Yet we could remedy that quite easily. Have you checked your loft recently. Is it properly insulated? Maybe you had your loft insulated when you moved into your home, but how long ago was that? It could be that the depth of the insulation was considered less important then. These days, the recommended depth of the most common insulating material, Rock Wool, is 270mm. If you’re a home owner or renting and are on eligible benefits or tax credits, or if you are over 70, or if the state pension is your main source of income, you could well qualify for loft or cavity wall insulation installed free of charge. For more information on this, go to http://www.government-grants.org.uk or contact your local Age Concern organisation.

Solar Power With the introduction of the Feed In Tariff, solar electricity is now a viable option to reduce your electricity bill and receive an annual payment from the government for doing this. Solar electricity systems use photovoltaic (PV) cells to capture the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. There are two ways of installing Solar PV, by fitting panels to your existing roof or if your roof needs repairing anyway, replace some of the tiles with PV tiles. Solar photovoltaic panels have a long life expectancy of around 50 years and most systems having a 25 year warranty and little or no maintenance they will give you peace of mind whilst generating your electricity. Savings can be considerable and a basic 2 kWp systems could provide around 40% of a household’s annual electricity. The more it generates the more you save as any excess electricity can be sold back into the grid.

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SAFE AS HOUSES

You’ve worked hard all your life, not only to put a roof over your head, but to own that roof too. Naturally the thought of your home being used to fund residential care in later life is not a pleasant one. Given that you can’t rely on the State, what can you do to ensure that your children inherit your home? Dominic Mackenzie, head of Probate and Estate Admin at Ison Harrison, cuts through the confusion with some clear advice. If you have over £23,250 in property and savings, the likelihood is that you will have to pay your own fees if you go into a nursing home.

The sad truth is that the country simply cannot afford to fund everyone’s long term care from the public purse.

You should be wary of expensive schemes that are often offered by the non-regulated and banking sectors.

Many people, and particularly those who have worked hard to buy their own homes, are very worried that if they go into a nursing home then all that hard work may count for little and the inheritance that they hoped would go to their children may instead go to fund nursing home fees. This can be particularly upsetting when you see people who have never worked getting their fees paid by the state.

People often say they want to give their house to their children. This is not a good idea. Your home is your security. While you can generally be confident that your children won’t force you out of your home, it may not be them that you are dealing with. What if your children divorce or go bankrupt? Divorce is as common as ever and bankruptcies are on the increase. If your child divorces, then their spouse may claim against your house. If they go bankrupt your home could go to pay the creditors. Your children may also be left with an unnecessary Capital Gains Tax bill.

Most nursing home planning should cost between £250 +VAT to £750 +VAT. For those amounts you can generally safeguard the value of half or even all of your home.

People are living longer but with that comes a greater number of people suffering from age related illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Few people would like to be a burden to their children but at the same time, few would want to take the expensive route of going into long term care. In the light of the government spending cuts, it is highly unlikely that the position is going to change for the better in the next few years.

A common myth is that if you give your house away seven years before going into a home that it cannot be taken into account. This is not true. The rule is that if you dispose of an asset (whether your house or money) at any time in order to avoid nursing home fees then that transaction can be set aside.

“There are options that can help you to lessen the possibility of paying fees and at the same time provide you with the security that you need to enjoy the rest of your lives. Seek proper legal advice. The whole value of your home could be saved for less than the cost of a week in a nursing home.”

Ison Harrison advise thousands of people throughout Yorkshire and beyond on all legal issues relating to getting older. We have six offices in and around Leeds, each office offering specialist legal services for the elderly. From making your will or your power of attorney to dealing with a loved one’s estate or dealing with a dispute over an estate we can assist. These areas of law have become increasingly complex as society has changed. You have worked hard for what you have got – don’t therefore leave your affairs to chance. We offer all of our clients a free half hour interview, whether at one of our offices or over the telephone. Please feel free to call us for a no obligation fixed fee quote.

Call us on 0800 316 0525 Email mail@isonharrison.co.uk or Visit www.isonharrison.co.uk Ison Harrison Solicitors, Duke House, 54 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 2EE

FO O D

DRI NK

Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes Recipes Rick Stein’s passion for fresh well-sourced food has taken him from continent to continent, across magnificent shorelines and to the very best produce the coast has to offer. Rick remarks “My greatest enthusiasm in life has been finding dishes that change my perception of cooking, that reveal a whole new vista of flavour combination. I think we all enjoy that. I’m just someone with an enthusiasm for food and a curiosity that’s sent me sniffing around all over the place looking for lovely dishes in all corners of the globe” Taken from his book ‘Mediterranean Escapes’ (BBC Books, £20) here are two of Rick’s favourite recipes inspired by flavours of the Med.

SERVES 4 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried chillies 1 mild green chilli, stalk removed and thinly sliced 225g fresh porcini mushrooms, cleaned and thickly sliced 2 large, ripe vine tomatoes, skinned, seeded and sliced 400 g dried spaghetti 1 kg small clams, such as carpet-shell, washed 60 ml dry white wine A large handful flat-leaf parsley, leaves finely chopped Salt

Vittorio’s Pasta with Clams and Porcini Bring 4.5 litres water to the boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoon salt. Meanwhile, put the oil and garlic into a deep sauté or frying pan and place it over a medium heat. As soon as the garlic begins to sizzle round the edges, add the crushed chillies, green chilli and sliced porcini and cook briskly for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute or two. Set to one side and keep hot. Add the pasta to the pan of boiling water and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente. Heat another large pan over a high heat. Add the clams and the wine, cover and cook over a high heat for 2-3 minutes until they have all just opened. (Discard any that stay closed.) Tip them into a colander set over a bowl to collect the clam juices. Add all but the last tablespoon or two of the clam cooking liquor (which might be gritty) to the porcini sauce, return to the heat and simmer rapidly until it has reduced by half to a well-flavoured sauce. Drain the pasta and return to the pan with the cooked clams, the porcini sauce and parsley and toss together well. Serve immediately.

Pastitsio: Beef and Macaroni Pie with Cinnamon, Red Wine and Kefalotiri Cheese SERVES 8-10 500 g tubular pasta, such as rigatoni, tubetti or tortiglioni 2 eggs, lightly beaten 50 g finely grated Greek kefalotiri cheese or parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons melted butter 10 g fresh white breadcrumbs For the white sauce 115 g butter 115 g plain flour 1.2 litres full-cream milk, plus a little extra 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg For the meat sauce 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 celery sticks, finely chopped 1kg lean minced beef 200 ml red wine 400-g can chopped tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato purĂŠe 10-cm piece cinnamon stick 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 tablespoon dried oregano, Greek if possible 2 tablespoons fresh copped oregano 3 fresh bay leaves Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the meat sauce, heat the olive oil in a medium-sized pan, add the onion, garlic and celery and fry until just beginning to brown. Add the minced beef and fry over a high heat for 3-4 minutes, breaking up any lumps with the wooden spoon as it browns. Add the red wine, tomatoes, tomato purĂŠe, cinnamon stick, ground cloves, dried cloves, dried and fresh oregano, bay leaves, 100ml water, 11/2 teaspoons salt and some black pepper, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce has thickened but is still nicely moist. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Bring 4.5 litres water to boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoons salt. Add the pasta and cook until a al dente - about 13 mins, but take care not to overcook as it will cook a little further in the oven. Drain well, transfer to a large bowl and leave to cool slightly. For the white sauce, melt the butter in a medium-sized non-stick saucepan, add the flour and cook, stirring, over a medium heat, for 1 minute. Gradually beat in the milk, then bring to the boil, stirring, lower the heat and leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper to taste. Preheat the over to 1800C/Gas Mark 4. Stir 250ml (about one-fifth) of the white sauce into the warm pasta with the beaten eggs and half the grated cheese. Keep the remaining sauce warm over a low heat, stirring now and then and adding more milk if it begins to get a little thick. Use the melted butter to grease a large, shallow ovenproof dish that measures about 23 x 33 cm across and 7cm deep. Spread one-third of the pasta over the base of the dish and cover with half the meat sauce. Add another third of the pasta and then the rest of the meat sauce, then cover with a final layer of pasta. Spoon over the remaining white sauce. Mix the remaining grated cheese with the breadcrumbs and sprinkle them over the top. Bake for 40 minutes until bubbling and golden brown.

Who can resist the great British Classic of fish and chips, especially when it’s some of the very best around? The Webster family have been producing quality fish and chips for over 25 years and are not only skilled in the art of cookery but also pride themselves in providing a warm, welcoming dining environment. Websters of Idle is the newest of their ventures and a welcome addition to the Yorkshire dining scene, offering all the charm of a traditional fish and chip restaurant, along side a sophisticated and varied dining experience. The premises ice-cream and coffee bar, it's restaurant and take-away offer something for everyone, how ever much time they have because between them they provide snacks, refreshments and quick bites as well as the opportunity to settle down for longer with a glass of wine and a homemade meal, in relaxed and comfortable surroundings. If you are organising a coach trip

or a big event, the restaurant seats 80 people and Websters are more than happy to fill it. There is ample room in the car park for a coach to drop parties off right to the door and on street parking. The restaurant has been designed with restricted accessibility in mind, so there are ramps, a disabled restroom and plenty of room for wheelchairs. It is an ideal place to take the grandchildren too, while you relax with an after-dinner speciality coffee, the children can design their own ice-cream sundaes, with 14 flavours to choose from they can add wafers, sweeties and choose from an assortments of toppings. Great shakes can be custom made too, all freshly made to order, you can add any flavour of ice-cream you want! For the more health conscious teenagers Websters do six different flavours of fresh fruit smoothies, which are 100% natural and really tasty. Smoothies are also a great way of getting your five-a-day and can help kick start your day alongside a coffee bar breakfast served from 8.30am every day. The responsibly sourced fish is very succulent and deliciously fresh and even the humble spud is given star treatment here, resulting in flavoursome, fluffy chips that couldn’t be more perfect for mopping up mountains of mushy peas. Remember, the portions are big so if you don’t like to be over faced with chips ask Websters to go easy!

Anyone watching their waistline can swap their crispy battered fish and chips with poached haddock and jacket potato, while those at the other end of the scale might like to indulge in a sumptuous pudding by Just Desserts of Shipley. Coeliacs have not been forgotten here either for Websters will cook you a fish with gluten-free batter. Whether you are after a lengthy catch up with friends while tucking into hearty homemade pies; have a birthday or wedding anniversary to celebrate with family; or are merely craving the nation’s favourite food – traditionally prepared or with a modern twist – there’s something for everyone at Websters.

< The Over 60s menu at

Idle is available all day, every day including bank holidays!

Websters of Idle Open everyday

Coffee & Ice-crea m Bar 8.30am - 7.00pm Take-away 11.00am - 10.00pm Restaurant 11.30am - 9.30pm

118B Bradford Rd, Idle, Bradford BD10 8TA Tel: 01274 622112 The well established Websters of Baildon has been trading for 17 years 37-39 Northgate, Baildon, Shipley BD17 6JZ Tel: 01274 592 719

Disabled Access Baby Changing Fa cilities On site parking Free Wi-fi Coach parties wel come Wine & beer license Telephone: 0127

4 622112

...fantastic fish & chips and much, much more!

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EVENT

Heritage Diesel Trains at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

The Ultimate Christmas Roast... Roast on a Bed of Vegetables For sensational gravy we always advise roasting your meat on a bed of vegetables that will complement your meat. These absorb the juices from the meat, to release these flavours squash and strain them through a sieve into your gravy pan. Poultry goes well with bashed ginger and sweet vegetables like carrots and parsnips. Roasting your Free-Range Turkey Time: 20-25 minutes per 500g Temperature: 180C / 350F / Gas 4

On weekends leading up to Christmas and in addition to our popular Santa Special Steam Trains, the KWVR will be operating a regular service of Heritage Diesel Trains, using our 1959 built Diesel Multiple Unit. You can sit right at the front and enjoy a driver's eye view of the line!

Image by Phillip Shannon for Blacker Hall Farm Shop

(Appliances vary, always check meat juices for readiness).

Remember to remove the ‘giblets‘ which may be in a bag inside your turkey. These are lovely boiled and used as a rich gravy stock. A turkey with an open cavity will cook quicker than a stuffed turkey. All ovens vary so it is important to check readiness at the fattest parts; the thigh and breast next to the bone. Juices should run clear and not pink. Pre-heat your oven before cooking and and rest before serving. A 16lb turkey wrapped in foil and thick towel will retain it’s heat for 2-3 hours.

The timetable allows for visiting Haworth's famous Main Street with it's many unique shops, or for visiting Keighley with it's selection of Town Centre shops and supermarkets close by. With ample space for shopping and prams, this service is ideal for shoppers and visitors alike. What's more Santa Special passengers travel free on this diesel train service on the same day as their Santa Special journey - giving you that extra time to explore the Railway. If you are travelling to Haworth by car, parking is available in the Bronte Parsonage car park and Weavers Hill car park which are council owned and have a nonclamping policy.

For more information please go to www.visitbradford.com

www.blackerhall.com

Kingfisher FISH & CHIP RESTAURANT 597 Denby Dale Road, Calder Grove, Wakefield WF4 3DA The Kingfisher Restaurant & Takeaway has dedicated over 60 years to perfecting the art of producing great British Fish & Chips! So, whether you choose to pick up a Takeaway or have time to come and enjoy a more relaxing meal in our family-friendly restaurant, we are pretty sure you'll agree that Kingfisher offers the tastiest Fish & Chips for miles around. Come and experience great food at great prices, a warm welcome and a friendly service that will make you want to return to Kingfisher again and again.

Enjoy a glass of wine or tradtional pot of tea with your Fish & Chips in contemporary surroundings. In addition to traditional Fish & Chips, we serve a wide range of other delicious seafood dishes, as well as a selection of vegetarian and meat dishes. And, we can even cook your Fish & Chips to order. AND diners over 60 can take advantage of our great value Senior Citizens Special!

Find us just off Junction 39 M1

Open 7 days a week restaurant 11.30am - 10.00pm takeaway 11.30am - 10.30pm

01924 274994

hello@kingfisherrestaurant.co.uk www.kingfisherrestaurant.co.uk

New Scams and Old Tricks Last week I got a knock at the door. I put the chain on and opened the door, a man was standing there. “Your fence is about to fall down,” he said, “support posts rotten. You’re lucky I was passing, I can sort that out for you” “Thank you,” I said, “I’ll get some one in to look at that” and I closed the door. “You’ll be sorry” he said. He waited a few moments and when he realised I wasn’t going to open the door he pushed a card though my letter box and stomped off. The card just had a name and mobile phone number on it. Of course, I didn’t get my fence fixed by that caller. Next time my son was over I asked him to have a look at it and it was fine. Even if it had needed some work I certainly wouldn’t use someone who just turned up out of the blue. It is a sad fact that there are many rogue traders around who will offer to do fencing, roofing, driveways, home maintenance and so on for what seems to be a reasonable amount. However the quality of the work, if any is done at all, will be extremely poor and it will end up costing a great deal more than you were first told. These people appear trustworthy and genuine but they do their homework and target elderly people, often living alone. Often the householder is panicked into having the work done immediately, or are persuaded that having the work done will reduce heating costs or help with global warming. The truth is once they have your money you may not see them again and they could well be impossible to trace. Any trader who gives just a mobile number should be regarded with caution because a mobile number can easily be discarded, and then there’s no way of getting in touch if the repairs are faulty, or badly done. Trading standards has dealt with cases where residents have lost thousands of pounds because they have agreed to have work done by someone who turned up on the doorstep. The advice from trading standards, supported by the police, is that you should never agree to have work done by a stranger who turns up at your doorstep no

matter how good a deal it looks. Only use traders that you know or who have been recommended to you. Reputable, professional traders do not go door to door. Another scam to watch out for is known as distraction burglary. This is when you get a knock at the door and a complete stranger distracts you whilst an accomplice gets into your house to look for money or valuable. The caller could be a couple saying that they have seen some loose tiles on your roof, and while one of them keeps you occupied by showing you the problem the other one gets into your house. It could be someone claiming to be from the council or a legitimate company doing some routine checks. It may even be someone claiming to be from the Water Board which has not existed for over twenty years. Once they have your attention someone else might be getting into your home. Every one of us is vulnerable to scams. We need to take note of warnings from the police and trading standards and refuse to deal with doorstep callers. Use your chain on your front door, don’t deal with strangers, don’t let them into your home and remember, it’s okay to say “no”.

Remember, reputable traders don’t need to go cold calling. Doorstep trading is the hunting ground for opportunists and scammers. Don’t even give them the time of day. 26

We offer a range of free services for customers with additional needs If you have sight or hearing difficulties, a disability or serious injury, mobility issues or a serious medical condition you’re likely to benefit from our ‘Helping Hands’ services. Find out more about our Helping Hands scheme and register for free. Call 0800 1 38 78 78 or go to yorkshirewater.com/ helpinghands and apply online. If you’ve difficulty hearing, contact us through our text telephone/minicom on 0845 1 24 24 23. If you know a relative, neighbour or friend who might benefit from our services, you could always register them.

How we can help: Communication:

We can help you by sending your bill, or other information: • in large print. • in Braille • in audio format (cassette, CD or over the phone) • sending your bills to a nominated friend or family member.

Your water meter: • •

•

We can investigate any high levels of water usage recorded on your meter; we’ll make an appointment to visit you We can take additional meter readings if you can’t take them yourself, but need them to help understand your usage. We may be able to take an additional reading if you ask us to, or increase your readings to every quarter We can provide advice if you wish to relocate your meter. If you ask us to move your meter we will consider each case and let you know if it’s possible. We may also contribute up to 100% of the cost.

Your water supply:

If we plan to interrupt your water supply, we can help you: • If you wouldn’t be able to read a letter, we can telephone you or visit to let you know in advance. • If you’ve difficulty hearing we can send you a postcard or letter or inform you by text telephone/minicom - our number is 0845 1 24 24 23; please remember to tell us yours. • If you’ve a serious illness or disability we can help you to obtain temporary water supplies. • If you’re a home dialysis patient, please let us know. We can also provide advice about making taps and appliances in your home easier to use, and we can give you information about the water quality in your local area.

Unexpected visitor? Thieves and conmen sometimes trick their way into customers’ homes to steal money or valuables by claiming to work for us or one of our contractors. Every customer can register a free password. This password will be used by our colleagues so you can identify a genuine caller. Call freephone 0800 1 38 78 78 and register your chosen password today or go to yorkshirewater.com/helpinghands. When one of our colleagues visit customers, they will always show identity cards displaying their photograph. If you’re in any doubt about the identity of a caller, please call us on 0800 1 38 78 78.

Remember: • • • • •

It’s very unusual for us or one of our contractors to visit your home without a previously agreed appointment. Colleagues won’t mind if you check their identity before allowing them into your home. We or our contractors will NOT request access to an upper floor of your home to check your water supply. We don’t sell any products or services on the doorstep.

Don’t let anyone into your home until you’re satisfied with who they are and why they’re visiting.

Be prepared for winter Visit our website for handy hints and tips for protecting your water pipes from the cold and dealing with frozen pipes. Remember to register for our Helping Hands service so that if you’re without water this winter we’ll try and get bottled water to you.

Go to yorkshirewater.com/frost for the latest advice.

Is there an alternative to care home admission? Many people assume that once they are no longer able to live independently in their own home the only option they have is to move in to a nursing or residential home, regardless of their wish to stay at home. They are often unaware that all of their care needs can be met by a Nurse or Healthcare Assistant who can move in to their home and provide a live-in care service. Whilst living in a care home suits the needs of some individuals, live-in care is suited to those who wish to remain independent in their own homes whilst receiving a bespoke care service, tailored to their individual needs. Live-in care allows people to feel more positive, stimulated and motivated. Such a change can often encourage an improvement in both physical and mental health, thus enabling the individual to feel like they are getting back to their normal self.

This cost-effective alternative to care home admission affords family and friends peace of mind, knowing that their loved one is being cared for 24 hours per day. Advantage Healthcare Group is an experienced provider of high quality live-in care packages. For more information please contact us today.

0800 694 4555 www.advantagecareathome.com

Advantage Healthcare Group

is an experienced provider of bespoke live-in nursing and care services, enabling individuals throughout the UK to remain living within the comfort of their own homes. We can support you with: • Personal Care • Complex Care • Holiday Care • Social Companionship • Palliative Care •

Hospital to Home Care

For more information on how we can support you or your loved one contact us today.

0800 694 4555

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Live-in care, an affordable alternative

to residential or nursing home admission. 28

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CARE

Who are you?

We’re all living longer. At one time, if we reached seventy years, we were thought to be doing well. Now we’re living well into our eighties and nineties, and sadly, along with the pleasure of prolonged retirement years, come disadvantages. The biggest of these is the possibility of contracting Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia.

here is no test which can definitely establish whether a person has Alzheimers disease, the most common form of dementia. In the early stages, forgetfulness is the most common symptom, and as the disease progresses, short term memory loss, lack of ability to think clearly and sometimes even the memory of how to get dressed can be lost. The reasons for the onset of this disease are varied, but the results are the same. Brain cells stop communicating with each other. Sometimes, a gradual onset of Dementia occurs after a series of mini strokes, or more suddenly after a stroke. Memory loss in a person with Alzheimers disease is mainly short term. The patient cannot remember events which happened last week, although they can remember events which happened many years ago with complete clarity. There could also be mood changes, and confusion.

How many people are affected? The Alzheimers Society reports that there could be as many as 750,000 living with dementia in the UK, yet only a third of these have been diagnosed. In an ageing population, this figure is expected to double over the next twenty years. THE UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA’S FINDINGS SHOW THAT DEMENTIA RISK IS HIGHER IN PEOPLE WITH BOTH STROKE AND IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT Stroke patients who also suffer from an irregular heartbeat are at double the risk of developing dementia, according to a new study by the University of East Anglia (UEA).

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Published in the journal Neurology, the findings show that stroke survivors with an irregular heartbeat – or atrial fibrillation - are 2.4 times more likely to develop dementia than stroke survivors without the heart condition. The researchers analysed 15 studies with more than 45,000 participants and an average age of 72. They compared patients with and without atrial fibrillation, and followed up to determine which developed dementia over time. Around a quarter of patients with both stroke and atrial fibrillation were subsequently found to have developed dementia. “These results offer convincing evidence of a link between irregular heartbeat and dementia in patients with stroke and could help us identify treatments that delay or even prevent the onset of dementia,” said lead author Dr Phyo Myint of Norwich Medical School at UEA. The study is the first high-quality meta-analysis of the potential role of atrial fibrillation in the development of dementia. Though the results show a clear association in stroke patients, Dr Myint warned that signs of a link in the general population – as suggested by some earlier studies – were inconclusive. “There remains considerable uncertainty about any link in the broader population,” he said. Atrial fibrillation is more common as people age. It affects around one in 20 people over 65 in the UK and more than two million in the US. The heart’s two upper chambers do not beat effectively in the condition, resulting in an irregular heart rhythm. This can lead to blood pooling and clotting which significantly increases the risk of stroke. Around 15 per cent of strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation. Other risk factors for stroke include smoking, high blood pressure and a sedentary lifestyle. 29

60,000 deaths are attributed to the disease every year. The number of dementia cases is expected to rise by around 150 per cent over the next 40 years. The disease is little understood but the risk of developing dementia is thought to be multifactorial.

Reassurance, giving the person living with dementia a hug, or holding their hand will make them feel safe and talking about events which happened in the past, which they can still recall vividly will give a sense of belonging and personal worth.

Dr Myint said further high quality research was now needed to establish whether the link between atrial fibrillation and dementia in stroke patients was causal.

Make sure they have fresh fruit, vegetables and oily fish and plenty of fluids; people living with dementia are more prone to dehydration.

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This important research suggests that those with atrial fibrillation who have previously had a stroke need to be identified and monitored more closely. We now need more research involving stroke survivors with this type of cardiovascular disease to determine whether controlling atrial fibrillation with medication could reduce the risk of getting dementia later in life.

Checking out their clothing. Try to minimise the number of buttons and zips – people with dementia find dressing and undressing difficult, so pull on clothing is easier, especially when they need to use the lavatory.

“Cardiovascular disease and stroke are well known risk factors for dementia. The best way to reduce risk of dementia is to take regular exercise, maintain a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables and ensuring that your blood pressure and cholesterol are checked regularly.” Many people worried about memory loss are reluctant to visit their doctor, possibly because they fear a diagnosis of Alzheimers Disease. In 2010, The Alzheimer Society relaunched its ‘Worried About our Memory’ campaign, which stressed the importance of seeking help, and since then, some 4000 people have requested more information. An early diagnosis to establish the type of dementia a person has is important. There are drugs which can treat certain types of dementia and most of these work best in the early stages. Most importantly, it helps the person with dementia to make plans for their future while they are still capable of making well judged decisions. Caring for a person with dementia can be frustrating and distressing. The person living with dementia can be aggressive, and has forgotten the rules of acceptable behaviour. They resent not being able to make themselves understood, they become confused and frightened, and this sometimes causes them to lash out and make hurtful comments or threats. But inside this changed personality is still the person you love. The mother who took you to school, helped with the homework and gave you hugs when things were difficult. Or the father who taught you how to ride your bike and how to drive your first car. The most common worry amongst the relatives of those with dementia is the dreadful feeling of loss. That terrible day when the parent you love asks “who are you?” One to one care, in the comfort and familiarity of their own home, can make a huge difference.

Being vigilant on their personal hygiene to avoid infection. Making sure that risks in the home are cut to the minimum. Fall alarms, door alarms, infrared sensors, help pendants and continence alert systems are all available to help protect vulnerable people.

Most importantly of all, on difficult days, remember this person is being overtaken by a disease which they cannot control. It’s the disease which has made them behave in irrational or aggressive ways. At times like this, try to give them a sense of personal worth, focus on happier times in the past, and talk to them in a way which makes them feel they are still in control and able to make decisions. For more information on Alzheimers disease, the following websites and helplines are available. Alzheimers Society Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk Helpline: 0845 300 0336 Carers Direct Website www.nhs.uk/carersdirect Helpline: 0808 802 0202 Dementia UKH HH Website: www.dementiauk.org Helpline: 0845 257 9406 National Dementia Strategy Website: www.dh.gov.uk

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Abbeydale

RETIREMENT HOME

Enjoy high-class comfort and care in Ilkley, with panoramic views across the scenic valley and surrounding countryside. When you walk into Abbeydale you enter a stylish and luxurious home that feels more like a hotel. The recently refurbished rooms provide bright and positive accommodation, and encourage a happy and satisfying life for residents. The spacious en-suite bedrooms with adjoining sitting room, are furnished to the highest standards and come with colour television, smoke detectors and 24 hour nurse call system. There are various elegant reception rooms and lounges, where residents may convene for a chat or smaller more intimate rooms for a quiet place to read. A full programmes of entertainment and activities are organised daily, and outings take place regularly. Abbeydale's own vehicle can take up to six residents out into the beautiful countryside, shopping trips into Ilkley and afternoons at tea rooms. We also promote the continuation of personal hobbies and interests. The personal needs of each individual is carefully identified and care programmes are created to ensure that the best care is provided. In order to do this all staff receive in house training and follow Abbeydale's philosophy of care which is designed to give residents privacy and control over their daily lives.

Our care staff provide for special bathing, dressing and changing needs, serving meals and tending to laundry, as well as medication, supervision and co-ordination of any appointments for the GP, Dentist and Optician. So, if you are a retired person or couple seeking a comfortable life in Ilkley, Abbeydale could prove to be the perfect solution. Please call us now for a brochure or call in to visit us.

About Abbeydale... • • • • • • • • •

24 hour care by caring staff All bedrooms with en-suite Excellent meals with special diets catered for Happy pleasant atmosphere Regular outings and entertainment Tastefully furnished throughout Warm, safe and comfortable environment Set in large beautiful gardens Hairdresser and beautician

01943 603074 www.abbeydalecarehome.co.uk

Please call us now for a brochure or visit us today.

A retirement home with a difference...

DENTURES BY DOMINIC

Helping You Smile With Confidence!

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

Personal consultations with Dental Technician accompanied by Dental Practitioner

S E R U T N E D W E N • Friendly relaxed atmosphere • No time restrictions • Appointments to suit you • Wheelchair Access

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Rapident Dental Laboratory

11 ANDREW ST FEATHERSTONE, PONTEFRACT,WEST YORKSHIRE WF7 5NS

07789 488994 | 01977 793193